The ideal water parameters for the fish are between 790F to 840F (250C to 290C). It also gives more flexibility when it comes to tank mates. It makes it easy for aquarists to care for them. Water ParametersĬonvict cichlids are hardy fish that can tolerate varied water parameters. It should be complete with lights to sufficiently illuminate the tank. The tank should be placed in a quiet location so that they don’t become spooked easily. In other words, the tank width should be high. The males are territorial, so it’s best to use plants as natural barriers to keep them from fighting.īuy an aquarium with a bottom surface area. Consider buying a tank with a capacity of up to 50 gallons of water. Tank SetupĬonvict cichlids must be kept in large tanks.
Never put a pair in a tank with other fish species as this will increase the chances of other fish getting injured or dying. Adding more of them increases the risk of territorial aggression. While you can keep them with other aggressive species, the safest option is to keep them alone.Ĭonsider keeping two to three pairs in a tank. Some of the possible tank mates for the fish include the following. Tank MatesĬonvict cichlids have an aggressive nature, which makes them dangerous to keep with other species. Always treat them using appropriate treatment options to ensure that they live a long time. They are also known to have lived even longer.īut you need to ensure the right tank conditions. LifespanĬonvict cichlids can live for up to about ten years with proper care. It would help if you made sure that the pairs are kept together to ensure that they remain healthy and happy. They often become gloomy when separated from their partners. Researchers have found them to be loyal and monogamous partners. Male and female fish establish bonds and jointly defend their nests. They are prolific breeders and attentive parents. They spend most of their time in their territory near plants or a cave inside an aquarium. They are highly territorial fish and may fight other cichlids or chase away any fish that comes near them. They will strike and injure other fish species, including those that are three times their size. Behavior & TemperamentĬonvict cichlids are aggressive, just like other fish in the Cichlidae family. Their black stripes are more prominent than the males. Females have a bright color with red/yellow dots on the belly. Generally, the male fish are longer and larger than females. Interestingly, the pink cichlids do not have vertical stripes and are more common among aquarists. ColorĪlthough native convict cichlids are black, you can also find them in gold, white, and pink varieties due to selective breeding. They can reach up to 6 inches, while the females can reach up to 4.5 inches.įemale convict cichlids appear more striking than their counterparts due to their striking colors with tints of red, gold, and violet. Male convict cichlids are bigger than females. Some may look different in the Aquarium, but that is mainly due to the lighting. The bars are black, but the body is grayish-blue, while the hue is generally consistent with slight variation. Most prefer cichlids with plenty of well-defined stripes. The bars are one of the first things that most aquarists look for when buying fish. The fish have about eight bars, but they can be larger or smaller.
The dorsal and anal fins dangle back, similar to a sail. The dorsal fin is semi-transparent and has black stripes. The fish’s dorsal and pectoral fins start some way back from the mount. The fish appears similar to the African cichlid but has different patterns and colors. The convict cichlid gets its name from the vertical stripes found on its grayish body. They also have sharp teeth and may injure other fish. The scientific name of the fish is Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, and it belongs to the Cichlidae family.ĭespite their small size, they are aggressive due to their territorial nature. The black convict cichlid fish is also called the zebra cichlid due to its unique black stripes. These are hardy species since they learn to adapt to different types of water conditions. They mostly live in slow-moving waters with rocky and sandy substrates. The convict cichlids are freshwater fish found in Central America’s rivers, from Costa Rica to Panama.
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